Bleaching apparatus.



B. n. JEFFERSON.

BLBAOHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IA! 1, 1908. I r 1,044,135, w I Patented Nov.12, 1912.

2 BHEETHHBET 1.

l V/T/V55555 I/NVENTUH.

E. 1). JEFFERSON. BLEAGHING APPARATUS. v APPLIOATIOH IILED HAY 1, 1908. Y

Patented Nov. 12,1912.

' 2 SHEBTS -SHBET 2.

l/wme'ssss 4 WVZNTUR EUGENE D. JEFFERSON, OF LOWELL, MASSAQHUSETTS.

BLEACHING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 1, 1808. i Serial No. 430,335.

provement in bleaching apparatus, particularly adapted for the bleaching of cotton fabrics.

The object of the invention is to reorganize and improve the apparatus of my former Patent No. 775,450, granted Nov. 22,

1904, and especially to adapt it to carry out patent for method of the method of my bleaching cloth No. 992,133, granted May 9, 1911. i

The invention consists in the apparatus hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of apparatus, Figure 1 is an elevation partially in section, and Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively an elevation and a plan of the motive fluid valve operating mechanism. I

The keir proper 1 consists of a large vessel provided near its bottom with a grid or grating 70, and at its top with a man-hole through which the cloths to be treated are introduced and removed. The cover of the man-hole is not shown. Connected with the bottom'df the keir is a pipe 2 which may be called the bottom pipe. It is provided with a check valve 3 which opens away from the keir. The bottom-pipe 2 is connected at the cross 4 with the draw-ofi' pipe, with the trap or well 8, and with the top of the keir. The draw-0E pipe 5, by means of which the keir may be emptied, is provided with a draw-01f valve 6. The pipe 7 leads from the cross 4 to the trap or well. The p1pe 9 leads from the cross 4 to the top of the keir, being provided with the in ector checkvalve 10 near its point of entrance into the keir and atits discharge end in the keir-with the spray head 11. The pipes 92, 7 and 9 constitute the vomiting pipe through which liquor is conveyed from the bottom of the keir to thetop and vomited in upon the fabric. The keir is provided with a test cock 12 located in its side at what for convenience will be termed the normal level and which is the level at which the operator desires to have the liquor in performing certain operations. The keir is also provided with a series of overflow openings at 13 through which the liquor may flow under certain conditions of use. The 1i uor flows from these openings into an over ow chamber 14, and a pipe 15 is provided to carry away the liquor, a cook 16 affording means for clos' this ipew This provision of openings or over ow it will be convenient to refer to as the washing overflow At the top of the keir a filling overflow and vent pipe 17 is provided, having a cook 18 for closing the same when desired. Here also is provided a safety valve 19 and a pressure gage 20. A filling pipe 21 is connected with a T in the bottom-pipe 2, and afi'ords means for introducing liquors into the keir. The water admission pipe 22vis connected with this filling pipe 21. the chemic pipe 23 and acid pipe 24. I These pipes are provided with valves which may conveniently be referred to respectively as the water supply valve, chemic supply valve and acid supply valve. The trap or well 8 constitutes part of the apparatusv for caus- So also Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

tom of the keir and vomited intermittently" into .the top. It comprises a tank into which the liquor from the keir flows through the pipes 2. and 7. 'When the liquor rises rising in the pipe 25 enters the pipe 26 -which leads to themotive fluid valvev operating mechanism, indicated in a general way by the referencecharacter 0.. The trap 8 in the trap 8 to about the level A, the liquor is provided with a, passageway pipe 27 I,

. which is secured at each end in the opposite walls of thetrap. It therefore provides. a passageway for the pipe 25 to the regulator. The fact that it passes through the trap is of significanceonly as aifordinga compact construction. The pipe 25 connects with the regulator at 28, and :the liquor pas'sesthence through the lower,ball-pipe 29 to the ball 30. The ball 30 is rovided, with an pper ball-pipe '31 whlch .leads back to the l to the trap 8. The pipes 29, 31 and 33, the

ball 30, and the pivot casting 34 constitute a frame which is pivotally mounted at 38 and capable of oscillating about such pivot. A counter-weight 39 on the arm 40 which 'issecuredto the pivot casting affords means lower valve seats.

' tive fluid into these pipes.

for lifting the ball 30 when it is emptied. From the T 32 extends upward a ipe 41 whichis connected by means of a ink4'2 .With a vmotive fiuid valve 43. The upper end of the pipe 41 is connected by the air pipes 44 and 45 with the injector check 71 abovethecheck valve 10. v The pipes44 and 45 afford a vent for the bal1'30 while the liquor is flowing into 1t. They also afford communication between the ball and the top of the keir when the level of the liquor falls in the trap 8 below thelevel of the ball so as to permit the liquor to run out of the ball. It .is to be observed that with this ,-motive fluid valve regulating apparatus the pipes'25, 35 and 44yield, owing to their elasticity, and the use of stuffing glands and the like is avoided.

The motive fluid supply pipe 46 leads to the motive fluid valve 43 and the pipe 47 leads from the motive fluid valve 43. to the top of the trap or well 8. The pipe 46 conveniently leads. to the injector. nozzle of the injector check valve 10 and is provided with two valves 48 and 49 respectively below and above the steam and air pipe junction therewith. This steam and air pipe 50 is connected with a steam supply pipe 51, provided with a steam supply valve 52, and an air supply pipe 53, provided with an air supply valve 54. r

The opening of the air valve 54 permits air to flow down through the pipe 46, pipe 47, check 55 and pipe 56, into the top of the trap, thereby forcing the contents of the trap out through thepipe 7 and up through the pipe 9 into the top of the keir. The check valve 55 consists of a casting provided with a ball 55 adapted to engage upper and When the motive fluid is vomiting the contents of the trap or well into the to of the keir, the ball 55 will be held agalnst. its upper seat and the communication afforded by the pipes 44 and 45 between-the ball 30 and the top of the keir will not be disturbed by the passage of mo- Moreover, the loss of motive fluid flowing through this small pipe to the top of the keir is by this means prevented. When the motive fluid is cut oil, the ball 55 falls against its lower -seat and permits the pipe 45 to vent the as follows :The fabric is run into the keir and trodden down in the usual way, after which the chains 72 are put in place and the manhole is closed. Thereupon the boiling operations are performed substantially as described in said patent. For convenience the Whole series of operations of boilingand bleaching with the present apparatus will be described in detail. It is as follows :First, caustic liquor is introduced through the pipe 21 and brought to a proper level in the keir. The pressures in the top and bottom of the keir are maintained in equilibrium through the connection afforded by the pipes 45 and 56, so that, as the liquor rises in the keir, the liquor will flow through the pipes 2 and 7 and the check valve 3 into the trap 8 and will rise in the trap until it reaches the level A, when it will flow into the ball 30 and cause the ball to fall, thereby opening the valve 43. After a suflicient amount of caustic liquor is introduced into the keir, the valve admitting the caustic liquor is closed, the cock 49 is closed, the-cock 48 is opened, and the steam cook 52 is opened, admitting steam from the steam pipe5l into the pipe 46. The steam will flow through the pipe 46, through the valve 43 (which is now held open by the falling of the ball 30),

"through the pipe 47, through the check valve 55, and through the pipe 56, into the top of the trap 8. The pressure of the steam will force the ball 55 of the check valve 55 against its upper seat, thereby closing the passage between the vent pipe 45 and the top of the keir, and the steam will force the liquor in the trap out through the pipe 4, thereby closing the check valve 3, and the liquor will then flow up through the pipe 9 and be vomited into the to of the keir. The passages through the plpes 29 and 31 are small enough so that the liquor will flow slowly out of the ball 30 and the steam will have forced nearly all of the liquor out of the trap 8 before the ball 30 is drained of its contained liquor. Theempty ball 30 will be overbalanced by its counterweight 39 and will therefore rise when the trap 8 is emptied of its liquor, the valve 43 will thereby be closed, the steam will be cut off from the trap 8, and the connection will be reestablished between the top and bottom of the keir through the pipes 45 and 56, owing t the fall of the ball in the check valve 55;

the liquor will then gradually flow out of the keir through the pipes 52 and 4 into the trap 8 until it reaches the level A, whereu on the liquor will again fill the ball 30 which will fall and open the valve 43, admitting the steam, and the operations will thus automaticallycontinue. This lOOlllIlg operatlon will be continued from seven to ten hours.

At the completion of the boiling operation the washing process ,is performed. First, the caustic liquor is drawn off through the draw-off ipe 5. Clean water is then run in from t e water admission pipe through the filling pipe 21, and allowed to flow through the fabric and out through the washing overflow pipe 15, the valve 16 being opened for this purpose. This washing process will be continued for about an hour and a half. The time of washing will depend somewhat upon the pressure of water used, as with' higher pressures more water will be passed through the cloth in a given length of time than with lower pressures. At this stage, according to the old methods of bleaching, the cloth would be ready to,

be removed from the keir, but according to the present mventlon, and in the practice of my improved method of bleaching, the

bleaching will now be begun without removal of the cloth from the keir.

The washing process having been completed to the extent usual in the washing of goods after the caustic or boiling operation, the water admission valve is closed, and the washing overflow valve 16 is closed, and the draw-off valve 6 is opened, and the water is drawn down to the normal'level. This will be ascertained by opening the test valve when the draw-ofl "alve is opened; then the cessation of the flow of watertherefrom indicates that the normal level has been reached. The final washing of the cloth, preparatory to the bleaching process, is now accomplished by closing the valve 49, opening the valve 48, and opening the com ressed air valve 54 which admits compresse air to the apparatus. The operation of the apparatus when operated by compressed air differs from its operation when operated by steam, in that while in the operation by steam the condensation of the steam keeps the liquor hot and secures the intermittent the water to flow out of the bottom of the or vomiting operation of the apparatus,

when operated ,by compressed air the air wilLblow the water from the trap. 8 into the to of the keir until it blows air out throug the relief or safety valve 19, by.

which time the ball will have fallen, and the valve 43 will have been closed, thereby reestablishing communication between the top and bottom of the keir, and permitting keir into the trap. This washing or scouring operation is continued for about an hour, to remove the last traces of caustic from the fabric. The compressed air is now shut off, and clean water is again run into the keir, driving out the water which has been used through the washing overflow as before.

The, water is now drawn ofi from the keir. This is conveniently accomplished by opening the draw-01f valve 6 to allow the water to flow out atthe bottom, and at the same time opening the cook 49, closing the cock 48, and opening the compressed air valve 54, so that the compressed air being forced into the top of the keir drives the water out at.

the bottom. The fabric is now ready for the chemic. from the chemic tank through the chemic pipe 23, until the level of the chemic in the keir rises-to the normal level. The supply of chemic liquor is then cut. oil, and the compressed an is turned on, and the cloth is subjected to the operation of the chemic Chenn'c is now run into the keir liquor, which is drawn out at the bottom and vomited in at the top for about five hours. A peculiar operation of the appa- I ratus during this operation under compressed air and with a limited amount of liquor in the keir arises from the fact that the cloth opens up when the liquor level rises, and closes down as it falls, thereby causing the chemic to flow into the interbeing expelled by the entering liquid. This aeration of the chemic enables the operation to be performed in a closed keir. At the completion of the chemic operation, the chemic is blown back into the chemic tank, or into another keir that may be ready to receive it. This leaves the cloth saturated with air. This is of advantage, as it secures the thorough aeration of the cloth. The fabric is then subjected to a washing operation such as has been hereinbefore described, for about one and one half to two hours under ordinary circumstances, after which the water is drawn OE, and the acid pipe is opened and the acid is run into the keir up to the normal level, and the air is turned on, and the securing operation as before described is again repeated. This scouring operation is continued for about two hours. Then the acid is blown back into the acid tank, or into another keir readyto receive it. The bleaching o erations havlng been completed, the good; are again washed with water for about two hours. The cloth is then, ready for starching and theAcIoth is, therefore, run out of the keir preparatory to the starching, and inasmuch as it will not occupy any additional time, it may be found convenient to run it through a washing machine before runnin it into the bin ready for the starching mac ine.

& a

The use of compressed air as the motive fluid for moving the treating liquors is of advantage over steam for certain purposes, inasmuch as it permits the operation of the liquors at any desired low temperature.

The method of bleaching, described herein for the purpose of elucidating modes of use of the apparatus, forms the subject of my patent above referred to, Ser. No. 992,133.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1 1. An apparatus for treating textiles consisting of a closed keir and vomiting pipe connecting the top and bottom of the keir, a trap or well connected with the vomiting pipe, a motive fluid supply pipe connected with the trap, a valve in said pipe, and

valve operating mechanism comprising a hollow ball, ball lever, and pipe connections between the ball and the trap and between the ball and the top of the keir operating automat-ically'to open the valve when the level of the liquor in the .trap reaches a predetermined height, and to close the valve when the ball is emptied of its contained liquor, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus for treating textiles,having, in combination, a keir, a vomiting pipe connecting the bottom and top of the keir, a trap or well connected with the vomiting pipe near the bottom thereof, a motive fluid supply pipe connected with the trap and a valve in said supply pipe, a pivote'dlever connected to said valve and having a 1101-- low ball on one end and a weight on the other end, pipe connections with the hall connected to the top of the keir and to the lever near the pivot thereof and of a length sufficient to permit their springing to compensate for movements of the lever, and pipe connections between the hall lever and a the trap, substantially as described.

3. An apparatus for treating textileshaving, in combination, a keir, a vomiting pipe connecting the bottom and top of the keir.

a trap or well connected with the vomiting pipe and near the bottom thereof, a motive fluid supply pipe connected with the trap, a valve in said supply pipe, a ball lever connected to said valve consisting of piping having a hollow ball on one end and a weight on the other end, pipe connections between the ball lever and the top of the keir of such length as to permit oscillations of the ball lever by the elasticity of the pipe connections, and pipe connections between ,the ball lever and the trap, substantially as described.

4. An apparatus for treating textiles,having in combination, a closed keir, a vomiting pipe connecting the top and bottom of the keir, a trap connected with the vomiting pipe, valve mechanism for controlling the vomiting comprising a valve operating lever, a valve and connections between the valve and the lever, said valve operating lever supporting a hollow ball at one end and having pipe connections from the top and bottom of the ball to a pivot cast-ing upon which the lever is pivoted, and a vent pipe connected with the top of the keir extending from the upper pipe connections with the ball and pipe connections to the lever rigidly connected with the pivot casting and of suc length as to permit oscillations of the lever of sufiicient amplitude to operate the valve by the yielding of the pipe connections, substantially as described.

5. An apparatus for treating textiles, having, in combination, a keir, a vomiting pipe connecting the top and bottom of the keir, a trap or well connected with the pipe near the bottom thereof, said pipe being provided with a check valve opening away from the keir and toward the trap or well, a filling pipe entering the vomiting pipe near the keir, a check valve in the vomiting pipe near the top of the keir opening 'toward the keir, an injector located in the vomiting pipe near the top of the keir, a motive fluid supply pipe connected with the injector and with the trap or well, and means for controlling the flow of the motive fluid substantially as described.

6. An apparatus for treating textiles, having,'in combination, a keir, a vomiting pipe .connecting the bottom and the top of the keir, a trap connected with the vomiting pipe, means for raising the liquor from the trap through the vomiting pipe from the bottom to the top of the keir, automatic means actuated by the rise and fall of the liquor level in a part of the said apparatus for controlling the operation of said liquor raising means, and a vent connecting the trap and the top of the keir, substantially as described.

7. An apparatus for treating textiles,having, in combination, a keir, a vomiting pipe connecting the bottom and the top of the heir, a motive fluid supply pipe connected with the vomiting pipe, a valve 1n said supply pipe, valve operating mechanism comprising a hollow ball, ball lever and pipe connections between the ball and the vomiting pipe, and a vent pipe connecting the ball and the top of the keir, substantially as described.

8. An apparatus for treating textiles, having, in combination, a keir, a vomiting pipe connecting the bottom and the top of the keir, a trap or well connected with the vomiting pipe near the bottom thereof, a motive fluid supply pipe connected with the trap, a valve in said supply pipe, and valve operating mechanism comprising a hollow ball,

ball lever and pipe connections between the 'balland the trap and between theball and connecting the bottom and the top of the keir, a trap connected with the'vomiting pipe near the bottom thereof, a motive fluid supply pipe connected with the trap, a valve in said supply pipe, valve operating mechanism comprising a hollow ball and pipe connections between the ball'and the trap, and a vent pipe connecting the ball and the trap with the top of the keir, substantiallyas described.

10. An apparatus for treating textiles, having, in combination, a keir, a vomiting pipe connecting the bottom and the top of the keir, a trap connected with the vomiting pipe, means for raising the liquor from the trap through the vomiting pipe from the bottom to the top of the keir, automatic means actuated by the rise and fall of the liquor level ,in a part of the said apparatus for controlling the operation of said liquor raising means, a vent connecting the trap and top of the keir, and a valve acting automatically to close said vent while the liquor is being raised from the trap to the top of the keir, substantially as described.

11. An apparatus for treating textiles, having, in combination, a keir, a vomiting pipe connecting the bottom and the top of the-keir, a trap connected with the vomiting pipe and ada ted to receive the liquor from the bottom 0 the keir, means for admitting a motive fluid into the trap to force the liquor from the trap throughthe vomiting pipe into the top of the keir, a vent for the trap, and a valve acting automatically to close said vent while the liquor is being forced from the trap into the top of the keir, substantially as desci ibed.

12. An apparatus for treating textiles, having, in combination, a keir, a vomiting pipe connecting the bottom and the top of the keir, a trap or well connected with the vomiting pipe near the bottom thereof, a check valve in the vomiting pipe between the bottom of the keir and the trap and opening toward the trap to allow liquor to pass from the bottom of the keir into the trap, means for admitting a motive fluid into the trap to force the liquor from the trap throu h the vomiting pipe into the top'ofthe eir, a vent for the trap and a valve acting automatically to close the vent while the motive fluid is forcingl the liquor from the trap into the top of t e keir and to open the vent while the liquor is passing from the bottom of. the keir into the trap, substantially as described. a

13. An apparatus for treating textiles, having, in combination, a keir, a vomiting pipe connecting the bottom and the to of the keir, a well or trap connected wit the vomiting pipe and adapted tofreceive the liquor from the bottom of the keir, amotive fluid supply pipe connected a valve in said supply pipe,-a valve operating mechanism comprising a hollow ball, a vent for the ball, a pipe connection extending from the bottom of the ball to the trap, a second pipe connection extending from the top of the ball to a point in the trap between the top of the trap and the connection of the first pipe thereto, whereby liquor which flows into the ball when: the trap is full is retained in the ball until the liquor level inthe trap has dropped below the pointat which the second pipe connection enters the trap, substantially as described.

14. An apparatus for treating textiles, having, in combination, a closed keir, a vomitmg pipe connecting the bottom and top of the keir, means operated b compressed air for intermittently vomiting the liquor through the vomiting pipe from the bottom to the top of the keir, and means acting automatically for maintaining the air pressure in the keir and for allowing the air displaced by the liquor vomited into the top of the keir to escape, substantially as described.

15. An apparatus for treating textiles, having, in combination, a closed keir, a vomitmg pipe connecting the bottom and the top of the keir, a trap connected to the vomiting pipe, means acting automatically for introducing compressed air into the .trap to intermittently force the liquor from the trap through the vomiting pipe into the top of the keir, and means acting autoatically for maintaining the air pressure in the keir and for allowin the air displaced by the liquor vomite into the top of the keir to escape, substantially as described.

16. An apparatus for bleaching textiles, having, in combination, a closed keir, a vomiting Pipe connecting the bottom and the top 0 the keir, a tra connected with the vomiting pipe, means or raising the bleach- "ing liquor from the trap through the vomiting pipe from the bottom to the top of the keir, automatic means actuated by the rise and fall of the liquor level in a part of said apparatus for controlling the operation of said liquor raisin means, and means for subsequently blowing air through the textiles in the keir to thoroughly. aerate them, substantially as described.

17. An apparatus for bleaching textiles having, in combination, a closed kelr, a vomitin pipe connecting the bottom and the top of t e'keir, a trap connected with the vomiting pipe, meansior raising the bleaching with the trap, I

liquor from the trap through the vomiting i pipe'fromthe bottom to the top of the keir,

thoroughly aerate the textiles by saturating automatic means actuated by the rise and them with air, substantially as described. 10 fall of the liquor level in a part of said ap- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, paratus for controlling the operation of'said in presence of two witnesses.

5 liquor raising means, and means for forcing EUGENE D. JEFFERSON.

compressed air into the top of the keir and Witnesses: down through the textiles to blow out the HORACE VAN EVEREN, liqnor' from'the'bottom of the keir and to ANNIE RICHARDSON. 

